Our first SmartPlay runs in the nursery at Ascot (15:05) as we side with Godolphin's Autumn Lily. A half-sister to three winners, including the very smart Alexandros, Autumn Lily is bred to be useful and she showed on debut that she possesses plenty of ability, justifying strong market support as she quickened clear to score at Haydock. Autumn Lily could make little impression up in grade and against the colts in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot but this is a much easier assignment and she can prove too good for her rivals.
We wait until the final race at Ascot, the seven-furlong handicap at 17:25, for our next SmartPlay. The David Lanigan-trained Labienus has been in excellent form on the all-weather of late, notching successive victories at Kempton, and he looks sure to give a good account on his return to turf where he is allowed to race off a lower mark. Labienus has performed well on turf before, finishing second at Redcar in May, and there is little reason to suspect that this progressive performer won't prove to be as effective on a fast turf surface. A tendency to race awkwardly looked to be holding Labienus back but the way he kept on under pressure at Kempton last time was encouraging and he can take advantage of this good opportunity.
Pether's Moon met plenty of trouble at Royal Ascot but can bounce back and confirm the impression that he is a well-handicapped three-year-old in the 17:35 at Newmarket. Pether's Moon went into the King George V Stakes at Ascot with an upwardly-mobile profile but was unable to show his ability, hampered on a number of occasions having travelled powerfully throughout. It is well worth instead focusing on the promise of his penultimate effort at Salisbury where he narrowly failed to reel in a thriving rival having been set plenty to do. The unexposed Havana Cooler, also from the classic generation, could provide the stiffest challenge but Pether's Moon could be significantly better than a mark of 90 and is worth backing.
Timeform UK SmartPlays:
Back Autumn Lily in the 15:05 at Ascot
Back Labienus in the 17:25 at Ascot
Back Pether's Moon in the 17:35 at Newmarket
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